1939 Plymouth truck.. with radial engine installed

That was neat. Never seen or heard of this one before. Before the videos loaded, I envisioned a propeller driven car.

The cooling system is movement. Not something you drive in traffic. Notice the hood was off for the run up and drive to improve air flow

And bet a big honking OIL cooler in the bed of the truck

Cold water alert!

With all the 70's, 80's, Ford F-150's out there why the heck pick a rare 1939 Plymouth truck to butcher!!!! Flight of the Valkyries? not. More like the flight of the Albatross which as everybody knows is a bird that lands with a thud. 15 minute max run time before a jug toasts, and a gallon of 101 octane per city block.......

A+ for imagination and ingenuity, D- for practically and motion selection.

Don't mind me I stopped having fun back in the 50's..........

Bob

lol, yep, i agree A+ for idea, D- for practicality...one of the videos he mentions cooking a cylinder and also having a big fan installed out of sight on the bottom.

It got him noticed.. and Jay Leno's attention.. I'm sure that Mr. Leno would agree with the D- practicality opinion though. His collection of automobiles may not be made-up of "practical-choices".. but they give more "bang for the buck"..

rsv1cox wrote:Cold water alert!

With all the 70's, 80's, Ford F-150's

Bob

I agree they should not have cut up that truck but why pick on Fords!! Cut up a Toyota!!
The dual controls in the cockpit are amusing but these guys need some direction.

crankbndr wrote:

rsv1cox wrote:Cold water alert!

With all the 70's, 80's, Ford F-150's

Bob

I agree they should not have cut up that truck but why pick on Fords!! Cut up a Toyota!!
The dual controls in the cockpit are amusing but these guys need some direction.

Partly because my son is a dyed in the wool Ford guy and I love tweaking him about it. But more appropriately, the F-150 is the worlds best selling truck and there are millions of them out there. A F-150 was the first truck I ever drove.

Yeah, a Toyota, may be a better candidate. I have been angry with them ever since they screwed over their customers (unintended acceleration) years ago. But, I have owned a Toyota, a little pre RAV4 SUV and it was a darn fine little vehicle.

Bob

I actually think it’s pretty neat. I don’t like the cockpit/interior at all though. If they chose a smaller radial it could have been better executed. I am a big fan of air cooled vehicles.

Now as to the truck of choice, it’s not like they took a pristine original plymouth and cut it up. It was probably a rusty shell that they slapped a frame under. At least it’s being used.

To put it in terms we all can understand... what is a castor locked, bent/broken finned Cox engine good for? Nothing... until someone cleans it up and puts it to use.

Or to be morbid, we are all going to die and then radial engined trucks will be the least of our problems.

Check out the 2:50 mark of the second video Ron.  The seller drove it onto his lot in good condition, well worthy of a restoration.  He paid $500 for it.  I would love to have had it for many times that amount.

But full disclosure....I have owned a lot of Plymouths in my life from my first - a 1950 Convertible to my last a brand new 1965 Sport Fury with the 283 Super Commando engine.  Nope, thinking deeper, my first was a 1947 Plymouth business coupe.

Bob

rsv1cox wrote:Check out the 2:50 mark of the second video Ron.  The seller drove it onto his lot in good condition, well worthy of a restoration.  He paid $500 for it.  I would love to have had it for many times that amount.

But full disclosure....I have owned a lot of Plymouths in my life from my first - a 1950 Convertible to my last a brand new 1965 Sport Fury with the 283 Super Commando engine.  Nope, thinking deeper, my first was a 1947 Plymouth business coupe.

Bob

I used to have a 1966 Sport Fury convertible with a big block 318. I loved that old hunk of junk. I had just graduated college and didn't have the money to restore the car. I wish I still had it.

As for the pick up and radial engine, that engine was more than likely designed to drive a geared propeller. Its bearings are not made for the load imposed by their drive train. I doubt the truck will rust any further because that engine probably sprays out half a gallon of oil per start up. I still think it is cool, though.

I loved my Sport Fury.

Bob

Me too.  I sold it low mileage to a friend and bought a 1969 Mustang for my wife to drive.  Typo above - it was a 383, not "283".  Too much car for my wife, the little auto transmission 302 Mustang was a better fit for her.  

So few pictures of the Plymouth, had to hunt to find this one around 1967.  



If I had room - For sale Hemmings $14,000